StrangenessProduction in NuclearM atterand Expansion Dynamics

Therm odynam icalpropertiesofhotand dense nuclearm atterare analyzed and com pared fordi erentequationsofstate(EoS).Itisargued thatthesoftestpointoftheequation ofstateand thestrangeness separation on thephaseboundary can m anifestthem selvesin observables.Thein uenceoftheEoS and theorderofthephasetransition on theexpansion dynam icsofnuclearm atterand strangenessexcitation function isanalyzed. Itisshown thatbulk propertiesofstrangeness production in A{A collisions depend only weakly on the particular form ofthe EoS.The predictionsofdi erentm odelsare related with experim entaldata on strangenessproduction.